Detectives have made one arrest in connection with the theft of 400 pounds of yellowtail stolen from a fishing boat on Stock Island. More arrests are pending.

The victim says he came in to the marina on May 30 with a full load of about 4,000 pounds of fish. He said the docks were very busy and he could not unload the fish that day, so he went home to see his family. He said he thought his fish would be safe because he knew someone was sleeping on a boat docked next to his. When he returned early the next morning, he found about 400 pounds of his fish missing and he called the Sheriff’s Office.

Investigations revealed two possible suspects – a 14 year old boy and a 15 year old boy, both of whom live at Stock Island Apartments. In an interview, the 14 year old told Detective Dave Chavka he and his friend used five gallon buckets to steal the fish. They made seven trips on their bicycles to the boat, docked at Sea Lobster marina. They loaded their buckets with fish and took the fish to a nearby trailer park where they sold the fish to park residents for cash – they sold each bucket for $20 and made a total of $360 which they split between them. The stolen fish was valued at $1,200.

The 14 year old was charged with burglary, grand theft and dealing in stolen property. More arrests are pending.

Detective Chavka says during the course of his investigation of this crime he has received information this type of criminal activity may be an ongoing issue. He received a second report of 50 pounds of fish stolen the following night. He identified a possible suspect in that crime as a 12 year old boy from Stock Island and is continuing that investigation as well. He has also received numerous reports from others around the marina area that they’ve had fish stolen in the past; witnesses have told him they’ve seen young boys around the docks carrying buckets of fish. Detective Chavka says he is looking for anyone who has information about this activity to call him. He is also looking for information from people who may have purchased fish on the streets from possible theft suspects.

Anyone with such information should contact the Lower Keys Criminal Investigative Unit at 305-292-7060. Callers may also contact Crime Stoppers of the Florida Keys. Tipsters who call Crime Stoppers with information will be eligible for a cash reward if their tip leads to an arrest. The Crime Stoppers hot line number is 1-800-346-TIPS. Tips may also be submitted on line at www.tipsubmit.com.

Three men from Miami were caught with undersized out of season lobster, some of them illegally speared on Saturday.

Deputies Wilfredo Guerra and James Hager were in the area of Duck Key at 6 p.m. when they spotted the men snorkeling without a dive flag at the 60 mile marker of the highway, on the Oceanside. They watched them until they got to shore. At that time, the deputies and FWC Officers Munkelt and Cox made contact with them.

A bag was found on shore with 14 lobster inside. After interviewing the men, 27 more lobster were recovered from a cooler in their car. Many of them were undersized and had been speared illegally.

All three men were issued notices to appear in court for the violations. They are identified as:

A fisherman told Sheriff’s deputies someone stole hundreds of pounds of yellowtail from his fishing boat docked at a Stock Island marina overnight between Friday and Saturday.

The victim said he docked his boat at Sea Lobster late Friday and went home for the night, leaving his catch – an estimated 400 pounds of fish – on his vessel. He said a friend of his was sleeping on a smaller vessel tied up to his boat, so he thought it was OK to leave. When he returned at 6 a.m. the following day, his fish were gone. His friend said he didn’t hear anything during the night.

Detectives are investigating an apparent home invasion robbery during which the resident of the home was shot in the leg.

When Deputy Tyler Blanton arrived on the scene at 1:30 a.m., he found the 39 year old victim outside the house at the 58 mile marker of the highway. He was bleeding from a gunshot wound on his leg. The victim told the deputy the suspects who shot him had just left the scene northbound, driving a gold colored sedan.

The victim told the deputy he’d heard a knock on his door at 1:15 a.m. and, when he answered the door, three men wearing bandanas over their faces burst in yelling at him to get on the ground. He said he struggled with one of the suspects, who was armed with a handgun. During the struggle, the gun went off injuring his leg.

After the struggle, the victim got up and ran out the front door. He began running toward a neighboring house yelling for help and heard two gunshots behind him. A bullet hole was found in a storage trailer parked in the neighbor’s yard. At that point, he said the suspects fled in their car.

The victim’s roommate was also on the scene. He said he was sleeping when he heard the noise from the struggle. He said he reached for his cell phone to call for help, but one of the suspects came into his room and took his phone from him, warning him, “don’t wake up or I’ll kill you.” The suspect then exited the room, taking the phone with him.

The victim was treated at the scene by paramedics, but refused transport to the hospital. Detective Bobby Burkett will be the lead detective investigating the case. According to Detective Burkett, the only thing the suspects appear to have taken were medications prescribed to the victim.

Detectives say they are investigating how a Marathon man suffered a head injury late Monday or early Tuesday morning on Coco Plum Drive in Marathon.

Deputies responded to Coco Plum Drive at 9 a.m. to reports of a man lying in front of the entrance to D&D Seafood. When they arrived, paramedics were already on the scene treating 51 year old Rolando Rodriguez. They told Deputy Gil Gonzalez Rodriguez would be airlifted to the Ryder Trauma Center for treatment of a head injury.

A man who works on a boat docked on the property told the deputy Rodriguez, whose nickname is “Loco”, had been on the property the night before. He said Rodriguez was intoxicated and was asked to leave the property. He said at one point Rodriguez got into a confrontation with another person at the boatyard. He said Rodriguez fell or was pushed into the water and swam away.

He told Deputy Gonzalez Rodriguez returned later and began throwing lobster traps at the man he’d had problems with earlier. He said Rodriguez must have fallen from on top of the lobster traps and rolled into the water. He said he and the other man pulled Rodriguez from the water. He said he gave Rodriguez a blanket and a life jacket and left him sleeping in front of the building.

The man who was in a confrontation with Rodriguez told a similar story. Detective Nick Whiteman says he is looking into the circumstances in an attempt to determine if Rodriguez’ injuries were caused by an accident, or if a crime took place. Rodriguez is reportedly in critical condition at the Ryder Trauma Center.

A Marathon man was run over by a forklift at a Marathon marina Tuesday.

The incident took place Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Shelter Bay Marina on Coco Plum Drive. The victim, 25 year old Aaron Hillgross, was riding on the right fork on the front of the forklift, driven by co-worker Noah Doyle. Hillgross fell off the vehicle and was run over by the two wheels on the right side of the machine.

When deputies arrived, paramedics were on scene. Hillgross was reportedly airlifted to the Ryder Trauma Center in Miami where his last known condition was reported to be critical.

A Tampa man went to jail Saturday night after driving recklessly and causing an accident.

Just after 5 p.m., deputies in Marathon received reports of a reckless driver in a white “jacked up” truck, northbound from 65th Street. Minutes later, they received reports the truck had been involved in an accident at 110th Street.

When Deputy Thomas Hill arrived first on the scene, he found witnesses who said the truck’s driver fled on foot with three other men from the vehicle he hit pursuing him. Deputy Hill found all of them a short distance away. The three men were struggling to detain the suspect, later identified as 27 year old Andres Javage of Tampa.

Deputy Hill separated the men and attempted to restrain Javage, who punched him in the face. More deputies arrived on the scene and they were able to take Javage into custody. He continued to fight with them as they handcuffed him. After he was handcuffed, he began kicking at the officers.

Javage was charged with assault, assault on a law enforcement officer, battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence. He was booked into jail.

A Marathon man is in jail, charged with attacking his brother-in-law with a sharp edged weapon, possibly a sword.

Deputies responded to Seahorse Campground on Big Pine Key at 7 p.m. Friday. When they arrived, they found the victim still on the scene. His face was swollen and he had cuts on his arm and leg. He said his brother-in-law, 27 year old Diosvany Orama, attacked him with a sword.

According to the victim and witnesses, Orama was at the campground to speak to the manager about the ownership of a trailer. As Orama was leaving, he drove by the victim and words were exchanged. Orama got out of his vehicle and the men began fighting.

At some point in the fight, Orama got what was described as a sword from the trunk of his car and began swinging it at the victim, striking him several times. He then left the scene, returning home to Marathon.

A three foot long black sheath, which had contained the sword, was recovered at the scene. Deputies in Marathon met with Orama and, after speaking with him, took him into custody. He told them he threw the sword away.

Orama was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and was booked into jail.

A deputy on foot patrol in the Marathon area Saturday smelled the odor of marijuana. Following his nose, he wound up arresting a local man and seizing 121 grams of the illegal substance.

Deputy Michael Sielicki was in the area of 6200 Overseas Highway in the vicinity of several apartments shortly after noon. He followed the smell of marijuana to a wooded area behind one of them. He found a green BMW parked there and, in a clearing nearby he found a table and chairs. He also found a plastic bag with marijuana inside.

Further investigation revealed a digital scale, several empty plastic bags, a grinder with marijuana residue in it. Sgt. Ken Fricke responded to assist. He knocked on the door of the nearest apartment and Michael Vandelinder answered the door. It was determined, after speaking with Vandelinder, that the marijuana and the items of drug paraphernalia belonged to him. He told Deputy Sielicki he got the illegal substance in Miami and was intending to sell it.

Vandelinder was arrested. He was charged with possession of a felony amount of marijuana, possession with intent to sell and possession of drug paraphernalia.

On Monday and Tuesday of this week, detectives from the Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit wrapped up a lengthy drug investigation by conducting a two day warrant sweep in the Lower Keys with the assistance and support of the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit, road patrol deputies, jail transportation officers, Monroe-HIDTA and agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration. During the two day operation, they served 27 warrants; seized three cars, one scooter and one handgun; recovered $50 in counterfeit currency and 14 people are now facing 47 separate charges as a result of the operation.

One person is still wanted in connection with this operation:

Alain Menendez, 23, of Big Copitt Key. He is wanted for trafficking in heroin and sale of counterfeit cocaine.

Anyone with information about where Menendez is should call the Sheriff’s Office at 305-289-2351 or Crime Stoppers of the Florida Keys. Tipsters who contact Crime Stoppers may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward if their information leads to an arrest. The Crime Stoppers hot line number is 1-800-346-TIPS.